Key for opening cans



May 8, 1956 w. J. MODERMOTT 2,744,652

KEY FOR OPENING CANS Filed March 31, 1955 INVENTOR. W/LFR/D J. M0 DERMOTT ATTORNEY III 9.3.

: 5 Hm A. III

United States Patent o r 2,744,652 KEY FOR OPENING CANS Wilfrid J. McDermo tt, San Francisco, Calif. Application 'March 31, 1953, Serial No. 345,873

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to a key for opening cans.

The well known can opening key of the type used in removing the flexible strip joining the top and the sides of a cylindrical tin can, is so constructed that the strip frequently becomes displaced as it is wound on the key shank, thereby making it expedient to unwind the removed portion of the strip and rewind it on the key before continuing with the detachment of the remaining attached portion of such strip. It is sometimes difficult to rewind the detached displaced portion of the flexible strip on the key, and in such an event a pair of plyers or the like must be used to forcibly remove the remaining attached portion of the strip from the can before the top and lower portions are completely detached from one another. The main reason why the detached portion of the flexible strip frequently becomes displaced on the key and does not properly wind thereon with one convolution becoming superimposed on the convolution beneath, is because the person opening the can inadvertently or otherwise inclines the key shank when turning it rather than holding it in a parallel position with respect to the side of the can. When the key shank is held in an inclined position, particularly during the initial operation thereof, the flexible strip does not wind evenly on the shank with one convolution superimposing itself upon the preceding convolution, but rather at some stage in the operation, a convolution usually slides oil the convolution beneath and thereby becomes displaced on the key shank.

The present invention provides a novel can opening key having a construction which facilitates the detachment of the flexible strip from a cylindrical can. v

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel can opening key having a shank formed with a cylindrical member which engages with the cylindrical side of a can and aids the operator in maintaining the key shank in parallel relation to the side of the can while the flexible strip is being wound thereon.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel can opening key having means which aids the operator in holding the key shank in a position whereby the flexible strip from a can may be uniformly wound there- Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter, or will be indicated in the appended claim, or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of a can opening key representative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for illustration purposes only and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a can opening key embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2. is a perspective view of a can showing my can 2,744,652 Patented May 8., 1956:

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2 I opening key in operative engagement with the flexible strip connecting the top and lower portions of the can;

Fig. 3 is, a side elevational view of the key and apart of a can, showing t k y in an op i e pos t on pr paratory to the detachment of the flexible strip from the n; an

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing another key embody. ing my invention. I

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a suitably shaped can having a lower cylindrical body portion 2 and an upper portion or top closure 3 which are connected together by a circumferentially arranged detachable flexible strip 4, one end of which is pro.- vided in the usual mannerwith a loose or detached end for the engagement of a can opening key.

The can opening key embodying the principles of my invention comprises a finger gripping portion 5 secured to a shank 6, the said shank having a slot 7 in its working end portion which is adapted to receive the detached end of the flexible strip 4. The key is preferably made from a length of rigid wire and the shank 6 is flattened as at 8 to facilitate the formation of the slot 7 therein.

The working end of the shank 6 near the slot 7 is provided with an enlarged cylindrical end member 9, the radius of which is considerably larger than the radius of the shank by an amount substantially equal to the radial distance of overhang of the upper rim 3' of the top closure 3. The shank 6 is axially arranged with respect to the cylindrical end member 9 and the differential in the radii of these members are such that when the key is operatively positioned for engagement with the flexible strip 4 as shown in Fig. 2, with the shank engaging with the uper rim 3 of the can top 3 and the cylindrical member contacting its curved side, the said shank will be in substantially parallel relation to such curved side. The enlarged cylindrical end member 9 aids the operator in maintaining the key in parallel relationship with respect to the side of the can during the initial windings of the flexible strip on the key shank, thereby normally avoiding the relative displacement of the convolutions as the strip is progressively detached and transferred to the key shank. As the key is turned and the shank is held in substantially parallel relation to the side of the can, the flexible strip is progressively detached from the can and wound on the key shank 6, with one convolution superimposing itself upon another until the final detachment of the strip and the separation of the lower and upper can portions 2 and 3.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 4 the shank 6 is provided with two suitably spaced enlarged cylindrical members 9 and 10 of substantially the same shape and size, the former being positioned at the end of the shank adjacent one end of the slot 7 and the latter being located at the opposite end of the said slot. The two enlarged cylindrical members 9 and 10 being positioned at opposite ends of the slot, and being arranged to normally engage with the sides of the can at opposite sides of the removable flexible strip, provide suitable'means for aiding the operation in properly holding the key shank in a position in which the said shank is in parallel relation with respect to the side of the can.

What I claim is:

In combination, a can including a closed end cylindrical body portion having a radially extending outwardly projecting peripheral rim on one end thereof, a flexible strip on said body portion adjacent the rimmed end and disposed substantially parallel thereto for removing said closed end, a key forremoving said strip, said key comprising an elongated shank having a finger grip means at one end thereof for rotating the shank, a cylindrical member fixed on the other end of said shank in axial alignment therewith, said shank having a slot formed therein intermediate the finger grip and cylindrical member for threading said flexible strip therethrough when said key is placed in a desired can opening position, said cylindrical member being rotatable with said shank and having a radius substantially greater than the radius of the shank by an amount substantially equal to the distance the rim extends radially beyond the body portion, whereby, when the key is threaded to the flexible strip and placed in the desired can opening position the shank will contact the rim and the cylindrical member will contact the body portion and maintain the shank in substantially parallel relation to the body portion.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Fellows Mar. 10, Burns Nov. 22, Holonbek Mar 16, Billeter et a1. Nov. 4, Grossenback May 15,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 3, Great Britain July 14, Switzerland July 16, 

